IMMUNIZATIONS: You will receive a full vet record with your puppy which will include every visit they have had and which shots/de-wormer they have received. Your puppy will come to you with her/his first set of shots which is a combination vaccine.  Your puppy will also have been de-wormed.  This takes place at 6 weeks.  It is VITAL that you take this to your new vet so that there is no confusion on what they need to provide.  These puppy's are very small when they come to you and I have had several situations where new vets did not pay attention to what had previously been given and near fatal over-dose has occured.  Also:  PRE-SCREEN YOUR VET!

Several situations that I have run into so that you are fully aware of what to be looking for:

1.)  After going home to her new family, a little puppy became hypoglycemic.  The new owner called the vet immediatly when symptoms showed themselves.  She was told it was not an emergency, to keep feeding her and give her water.  The new owner did this and also put a bit of sugar on her tongue. The next day, the puppy was worse.  She called the vet again and yet was told again that she could handle it and that it wasn't recommended that she come in.  Hours later, the new owner decided to go in on her own and her puppy died on the way.

If you, at ANY time feel that something is not right with your puppy please go to the vet immediatly and if you need or wish, call me on the way!

2.)  A new puppy owner took her puppy to the vet for her second set of puppy shots.  The vet also told the new owner that she needed to de-worm the puppy herself at home.  (All of my puppy's are already de-wormed - however, some de-worm several times before week 12) The problem with this was #1 - the vet should have just done the de-worming himself as it takes just a moment to do, and #2 - he gave her the wrong doseage to give her puppy.  THe new owner went home and did just what the vet said by putting a tablespoon of de-worming powder on her food for three days.  The puppy was 2 pounds and the dosage nearly killed her.  NEVER DO VET CARE YOURSELF!  THAT IS WHY WE PAY THEM!

3.)  A new puppy owner took her puppy to the vet for the 72 hour check-up (I require all new owner to do this as part of the health gaurentee so that they know for a fact they have a healthy puppy).  The vet told the owner that the puppy was under-weight.  Now, the puppy was 2.6 pounds at 10 weeks.  These puppy's get to about 6 - 7 pounds fully grown.  This puppy was NOT under-weight.  However, instead of a supplement such as Nutri-Cal - the vet told the new owner to give her canned food.  Now .. anyone experienced with the malti-poo breed knows how PICKY they are with food!  Once she had the canned food ... she refused the dry.  She would not eat. The new owner called in a panic.  We were able to get Boots moved back over to the dry food, however this was an emotional ordeal!  The vet never should have suggested the canned food and especially when the puppy was not under-weight.

You may be asking why I, as a breeder, am telling you some horror stories!  Well, I feel that these experiences need to be told in order to help future puppy owners be completely informed of every situation and possibility.  These little puppy's become a part of our families and our love and concern for them does NOT end when they come to you.

Please keep this information tucked in the back of your mind when you take your puppy to the vet.  They should be checking the inside of the ears, the back hip, the rear legs, the mouth, the throat, the teeth, the temperature, and rear, check for hernia, and examine vet records.

info@novelpuppies.com

FOOD:

I feed my puppy's Science Diet Small Puppy Bites.  Based on statistics from the USDA recall list I feel confident in this choice and my dogs have done well with it.  You will need to continue feeding your puppy this exact same food for at least 3 - 5 days.

If you decide to change his/her food you will need to do it gradually.  Otherwise, your puppy may either not eat at all, or experience diarrhea.  If you do plan on changing your puppy's food begin around day 5 and mix about a tablespoon of the new food in with the Science Diet.  Do this for a few days and then add a little more new with the old.  Continue this until he or she is switched over - should take about 7 - 10 days.

SUPPLEMENT:

If your puppy is not eating well you can purchase NUTRI-CAL at any petsmart or petco.  Follow the directions - and please call me as well if this is the case.

Training:

I begin potty training my puppy's at about 4 weeks old by placing a puppy pad inside a puppy pad container inside of the kennel area.  I simply place it in the kennel area and about every thirty minutes I'll pick a puppy up and put her/him on the pad.

Interestingly enough, once one goes .. they tend to all follow suit.  I've never had problems training them with this method.

If puppy's go outside of the puppy pad I do not discipline because with multiple puppy's I don't know who did it!  I will simply clean it up and say to all of them, "No no!" and then place the "item" on the puppy pad for all to see.

I would suggest that as you begin to train your puppy to go outside you also have a puppy pad in his or her area as well.  They are familiar with it and small puppy's can't go for as long as dogs so this is a safe bet. :)

Keep in mind .. mine are in a "holder" so that they cannot be played with or chewed ... I would recommend taping it down or buying the holder.

Puppy Promise!

I am a firm believer in lots of love and lots of specialized treatment.  Not only do we love on these little ones but we do not do our own vet care. 

Your puppy will need to be groomed once every three months.  He or she will need to have a well puppy check up at least once a year with booster shots when needed.

You will need to frontline and heartguard your puppy once a month.

And please, please, please send us updates and photo's!!!!